How Do Cat Cafes Pass Health Inspections?

Please be sure to call ahead before traveling to a cat cafe listed on this site. It is difficult to keep track of when locations close or change their hours.





If you have just learned of the concept of cat cafes, you may be wondering how this could possibly exist! With all of the potential hazards of having live cats and food within the same building, one would think that cat cafes shouldn’t be around at all.

But we would have you know that safety is definitely taken into consideration – and the only way that cat cafes can be in business is by passing health inspections. These inspections will insure the safety of both the cats that live in the building, as well as the customers that will be eating and interacting with the animals there.

There are many different requirements and expectations that cat cafes must meet in order for everything to run smoothly. You can see some of these things below:
  • A separate eating area from the cats. One of the most important rules that cat cafes implement for the safety of both the cats and the customers, is a separate eating area away from the cats. Many people imagine that “cat cafes” allow people to casually sip their coffee while petting a kitten on their lap. However, this is something that is not allowed, so hot beverages will never spill and burn a cat, and protect cats from consuming human food. Most cat cafes will make it to where customers can still see the cats through a glass wall or window while they are eating.

  • Meeting the health code. Making sure that the cafe’s cats and buildings meet the health code is vital to the health of the animals staying there. Every state and area has its own code specific to businesses, and cafes are to maintain strict compliance with the code. Many cafes are in joint partnership with an animal shelter or organization that will provide the cafe with cats. Unless the cafe can meet the health code, cats will not even be allowed to stay there.

  • Cats must be vaccinated and up-to-date on shots. Another requirement that the organizations associated with cat cafes have, is that cats be up-to-date on their vaccines and shots. This is not only to protect cats from each other and humans, but also from customers that interact with the cats. Overall, the safety and health of both the cats and clients are of the highest priority. In order to pass health inspections, it must be shown that all the cats must be taken care of.

  • The building must be regularly cleaned and sanitized. Cats can be extremely dirty animals, especially when you have ten or more living in the same area. In order for the cats to stay healthy, local authorities have regulations regarding the state of cleanliness within each building. Cat living areas are expected to have clean litter boxes, swept floors, no bacteria, pests, etc.The cafe must be checked and controlled for pests. Pests can be a major problem in buildings that home a lot of animals. From insects to rats and mice, buildings must have their cafes checked and controlled to limit these pests. Despite what you may think, these cats will not be very good at killing pests, and they really shouldn’t be – since rodents can give the cats diseases that would preventthe cafe from passing health inspections.


Are Cat Cafes Hygenic?

Even though cat cafes have proven to have strict rules on cleanliness in order to pass health inspections, you may still be doubtful that the cafes are clean places. Most cat cafes are very diligent to make sure that the entire building is clean and safe for both the cats and clients. Despite being one of the cleaner pets, cats are still unhygienic beings. But the staff that works at cafes do their very best to meet the health department regulations regarding cleanliness.

A common question that people have, is if cat cafes smell bad. However, cat cafes work extra hard at making sure the place is very clean and doesn’t smell bad. Despite having several litter boxes and cat food around the building, cat cafes will smell surprisingly pleasant during your visit!

Just as a house that has several cats may not smell, a cat cafe will not be any different as long as the staff is doing their jobs. Cat owners that care for the needs of their cats will rarely have to encounter any kind of smell. Daily cleaning of the cat’s litter box, vacuuming, and dusting will all help cafes meet the health department requirements, as well as eliminate smells.

Also, regularly airing out the building via windows or doors can help get rid of any kind of smell that may remain. Cats are naturally cleaner animals than other common household pets, so if owners do their jobs to clean, there should not be any issues.

Being that a cat cafe is a building that will feature both live animals and food, you may find yourself worried about the safety aspect of this combination. But cat cafes have struct rules regarding the interaction between humans and their food, and the cats that live at the cafe.

Staff members that handle food are NOT allowed to touch or hold the cats for the safety of the customers. Separate staff members have the dedicated job of helping with the kitties. For some cafes, food is in not made in-house to prevent accidents or health concerns. Instead, they pay a local bakery to bring in fresh goodies every morning.

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you determine how cat cafes pass health inspections! If you have any questions or anything to add, please comment down below. Also, if you are curious about where to find local cat cafes in your area, check out our cat cafe locator!